The young Christian will perceive from verses 42, 43, 44 that at the resurrection, we shall have bodies of glory; such is the completeness of God's redemption work that we shall not come into judgment (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24), N. T.); foreknown, predestined, called and justified already, we are waiting to be glorified (Rom. 8:29, 3029For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:29‑30); see also Phil. 4:20, 2120Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 21Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. (Philippians 4:20‑21), and 1 John 3:22Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)). We can see the pattern of the heavenly body in the Lord's, when He rose triumphant over death (Luke 2421But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. (Luke 24:21); John 2021Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (John 20:21), 21).
Verse 45 refers to Gen. 2:77And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7); “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.”
“The first man Adam became a living soul; the last Adam a quickening (making alive) spirit.” (verse 45, N. T.).
The name “Adam”, is used here as a title for the head of the race, and the first Adam is placed in contrast with the last, (last, because there will be no third) Adam.
“Was made”, in italics in the end of verse 45, should be left out; as Son of God, He always quickened. He became, as the Head of a new and spiritual race, a quickening Spirit, and to them He gives all that belongs to the position He has acquired as man before God. How great the contrast with what we were born into, as connected with the first Adam, who was a poor sinner before he had begotten any of his offspring!
Verses 46 to 49, bring out yet further the contrast between what is of the first man, and what is of the Second: When the first man fell from his place of innocence, God began to work in grace, and has continued ever since. It is out of poor sinners that He makes heirs of salvation.
“Such as He made of dust, such also those made of dust; and such as the heavenly (one), such also the heavenly (ones). And as we have borne the image of the (one) made of dust, we shall bear also the image of the heavenly (one)” (verses 48, 49, N. T.).
All of this magnifies the grace of God. Wonderful, amazing, that He should ever have purposed to bring into such a position of favor ourselves who, with nothing to commend ourselves to Him, have been led to put our trust in His Son! We have taken God at His word, and found happiness, peace, comfort, hope that is sure and abiding, in a new and eternal relationship He has Himself formed.
Verse 50 makes it very plain, if anyone thinks to attain God's kingdom in his own (imagined) sufficiency of goodness, that it is impossible; “flesh and blood” can not inherit that kingdom, neither doth “corruption” inherit incorruption. Could He speak more plainly? Only through Christ, and in Christ, is there salvation. “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).
Verses 51-52. This chapter has set out the truth of the resurrection, particularly as it affects God's children; we have no salvation unless Christ is risen, and His rising from among the dead is our assurance that we shall rise like Him. Here we have learned, too, of the glorious change that awaits the believer; having borne likeness to the first man, by whom sin and death came into the world, we are going, in the resurrection, to be like the Second Man, the heavenly One, and the Giver of life. Thirdly, we are introduced in verses 51, 52, to the manner of the resurrection, a secret given to the apostle Paul to reveal to the saints.
We shall not all fall asleep; surely by far the most of the heavenly saints have already fallen asleep, for the day of grace is manifestly drawing to its close, and those who remain alive now, are apparently few; their number would seem to be decreasing, though souls are still being saved. Before all are gone, so that not a single true Christian is left on earth, the resurrection will take place. The writer believes that that moment is now near.
“But we shall all be changed”. Not one of those who trust in Jesus, not a single lamb of His flock, will be forgotten then. Some of us will be asleep in our beds, for while it is daytime in part of the world, it is night at the opposite side; some of us may be at our daily tasks, or at school, when that moment comes. The very thought of it acts as a check on our minds, our ways, our words, for we that are Christ's do not want to be in any way displeasing to Him.
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” There is no warrant for supposing that believers will know of it even a moment beforehand, that they might have time to say goodbye to the unconverted of their acquaintance, or to give them a last warning. The twinkling of an eye is probably the shortest measure of time our bodies take knowledge of; a second on your watch dial is a much longer period.
The trumpet sounding the last trump is like the last signal given to a body of soldiers ready to break camp; they are off in an instant. The dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and we, His own who are living at that moment, shall be changed without passing through death. “This corruptible” and “this mortal” refer to our bodies even while we are alive; whether passing through death or preserved alive till then, we must put on incorruption and immortality; and that having taken place, Isa. 25:88He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 25:8) will have its fulfillment, as far as the great body of the heavenly saints are concerned.
Not at the moment 1 Cor. 15:51,5251Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑52) presents, will these Old Testament Scriptures have their complete and final enactment; Israel's deliverance comes later, but the resurrection of the heavenly saints is to be the first exhibition of that power which will completely annul the work of Satan, in the triumph of God's grace.
Verses 56, 57. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but death has lost its sting for the believer; for him, the grave has lost its victory. The law, by which is no deliverance for the guilty, rather provoked man to sin because of his rebellious will. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory by our Lord Jesus Christ; and meanwhile (verse 58) we are to be firm, immovable, abounding always in the work of the Lord, knowing that our toil is not in vain in the Lord. We know what awaits us, by divine grace, and though Satan may try to hinder, the end will be sweet.